Hey Guy's,

I have been browsing for a few years now since I bought my 8 in 09. I always thought my first post would be a little bit more pleasant. I have an 04 with 87,000 ( Just out of the warranty). I have noticed a gas smell that has been getting worse for a few months that I should have gotten checked a long time ago. But due to finances, buying a new 02 sensor ( check engine light reading ) wasn't a huge priority. I have been noticing this rattling sound under my car for a few months as well now. Only rattles when I take off or sometimes when I am changing gears. Well I ended up taking my car to get an oil change and Mazda said they would add some engine cleaner in the fuel. When I was driving home my car just died when changing gears. It seems that the car can't catch itself when it is falling back down to around 1000 rpms but instead falls straight to 0 and dies. I was able to continue to start the car and made it home. Took the car out today and car died again doing the same thing. I wasn't able to get the car started as it seemed like my battery was drainned. I ended up getting a jump and was able to keep it rev'd up to get home. I am getting ready to attempt to drive it to autozone to have the CELs pulled and have my battery tested. Any suggestions on where to begin? Thanks for the feedback in advance!!

 

Update**

I had the CEL's pulled and they are listed below:

P0456
--Faulty Fuel Cap
--Canister Faulty
--Purge Valve solenoid Faulty
--Damage/leaking EVAP hose
--Faulty EVAP leak detection pump

P0139
--Exhaust leak
--Faulty injector
--Engine mechanical condition
--Faulty heated oxygen sensor

P0171
--Low fuel pressure
--Large vacuum leak
--Dirty/defective MAF sensor
--Engine mechanical condition

P0442
--Faulty fuel cap
--Canister faulty
--Purge valve solenoid faulty
--damaged/leaving EVAP hose
--Faulty EVAP leak detection pump

The battery was killed so I bought a new battery. Once I started the card up, the Traction light was on along with the blinking DSC. The car was not able to idle by itself without receiving some assistance. I was able to drive it about 2 miles home and then let the car die in the drive way. Any suggestions on what should be replaced next?

Thanks.

 

replace the gas cap, clean out your maf sensor and you might wanna change out your airfilter too...if both the traction light and DSC light are on again, turn the car on, turn the steering wheel all the way to the right, then all the way to the left then back to the middle, i think one of the lights should turn off, restart the car and both should turn off fine...when your cars been dead for a while it need to relearn all the fuel trims it might also be losing air due to a dirty air filter and reading something wrong due to the MAF sensor, thus the reason you car may be shutting down on you, just keep it alive for a few minutes and it should relearn everything

 

now this sounds like you Catalytic converter is gone, youre already over the warranty so in order to replace it, you either fork up the 1k+ for a new one, look for a used one here on the forums, go with hi-flow cat from a vendor (alot cheaper), or go with a straight pipe (but youll still have a check engine light). Having a bad cat can lead to weird behaviors in your car, misfires, loss of power, bad MPG , and yes even that infamous gas smell.

 

Thanks for the response. I am going to try and get the MAF sensor cleaned off tonight. I Was able to drive it home last night only about 3 miles but it was still unable to hold its own idle. I would have thought some more check engine lights woe.have came on since it wasn't able to stay running.

 

go with the fuel cap, I'm on my 4th or 5th one.